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EPA Prosecutes Uisce Éireann - Lahinch (D0080-01)

Hearing Date: September 29, 2025

On 29th September 2025 at Dublin Metropolitan District Court, the Environmental Protection Agency prosecuted Uisce Éireann for breaches of its Wastewater Discharge Licence D0080-01 (Lahinch, County Clare).

Uisce Éireann pleaded guilty to breaches of conditions by:

  • Failing on or about the 3rd of January 2024 to comply with Condition 6.1, in that they did fail to notify the Environmental Protection Agency as soon as practicable following an incident, namely the flooding of the Lahinch waste water treatment plant, which was a discharge that did not comply with the requirements of their licence, on the 1st day of January 2024. 
  • Failing on or about the 10th of April 2024 to comply with Condition 6.1, in that they did fail to notify the Environmental Protection Agency as soon as practicable following an incident, namely the flooding of the Lahinch waste water treatment plant, which was a discharge that did not comply with the requirements of their licence, on the 8th day of April 2024. 
  • Failing on or about the 7th of August 2024 to comply with Condition 6.1, in that they did fail to notify the Environmental Protection Agency as soon as practicable following an incident, namely the flooding of the Lahinch waste water treatment plant, which was a discharge that did not comply with the requirements of their licence, on the 5th day of August 2024. 
  • Failing on or about the 8th of April 2024 to comply with Condition 1.3, in that they did permit discharges to waters from the waste water works that were not restricted to those listed and described in Schedule A:  Discharges of the said Licence. 
  • Failing on or about the 5th of August 2024 to comply with Condition 1.3, in that they did permit discharges to waters from the waste water works that were not restricted to those listed and described in Schedule A:  Discharges of the said Licence. 
  • Failing on or about the 9th of May 2023 to comply with Condition 3.1, in that a discharge from the waste water works exceeded the emission limit value for carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD), as set out in Schedule A: Discharges of the said licence. 
  • Failing on or about the 17th of October 2023 to comply with Condition 3.1, in that a discharge from the waste water works exceeded the emission limit value for chemical oxygen demand (COD) as set out in Schedule A: Discharges of the said licence. 
  • Failing on or about the 15th of November 2023 to comply with Condition 3.1, in that a discharge from the waste water works exceeded the emission limit value for suspended solids as set out in Schedule A:  Discharges of the said licence. 
  • Failing on or about the 17th of July 2024 to comply with Condition 3.1, in that a discharge from the waste water works exceeded the emission limit value for Ammonia as set out in Schedule A: Discharges of the said licence. 
  • Failing on or about the 5th of July 2023 to comply with Condition 3.1, in that a discharge from the waste water works exceeded the emission limit value for Total Phosphorous (as P) as set out in Schedule A:  Discharges of the said licence. 

Judge Halpin convicted Uisce Éireann on all charges and imposed a fine totalling €20,000.  Agency costs were also agreed.